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Mary
is amazed by how happy the students seem, especially given their disabilities.
She feels that the greenhouse staff probably gets even more out of their visits
than the students themselves do. Certainly Mary and Maurene have both developed
a warm relationship with Monica, an 18 year old student from the Phillipines
who is unusual, even at Perkins, in that she is completely deaf and blind. She
is also unusual in that she is unafraid of her environment and full of curiousity
and questioning.
Christa
Gicklhorn coordinates the Perkins work experience program and mediates between
Monica and those around her. They communicate through touch; as Christa signs,
Monica reads her motions by holding onto her hands. After finishing her work
at the greenhouse, Monica talks to Mary again; holding her hands she asks where
Maurene is. "Oh, I know what she wants!" Maurene laughs and walks over to Monica
who takes her hands and places them on Mary's hands. Mary and Maurene aren't
sure why Monica joins all their hands like this, but its become a regular ritual.
All three of them are laughing and smiling, Monica clearly loving the game.
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[Christa
explains to Monica, 18, through sign language, how to fold the boxes. Since
she is completely deaf and blind, Monica must touch Christa's hands while she
signs.] |
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